Wire-securing means for fence posts



FEB.

. a. t 5 llv m 4 v/ //4 W Jay W 4 3 Delmer Glee Oct. 6, 1931. D, C LEE WIRE SECURING MEANS FOR FENCE POSTS FIE- IT-Il- Witness Patented Oct. 6,- lggl UNITED STATES T FFW .DELMER C. LEE, OF MAILEWOOD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORi TO MISSOURI ROLLING MILL CORPORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF, MIS SOUZ B,I

WIRE-SECURING MEAN FOR FENCE ros'rs Application filed February 17,193L/Seria1-No. 516,412.

The invention relates to structures in which fence wires are secured by means of wire fasteners against posts, the latter being usually of metal.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction in which the wire fasteners are held in operative position due to their own resiliency, the structure being such that each fastener may be snapped into operative position without the aid of special tools. I

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 22 of Fig. l but showing the clip before its final movement toward operative position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the clip completely in operative position. Fig. at is a horizontal sectional view on line l-4 of Fig. 3.

A metal post 5 is shown of T-shape in transverse section, said post being provided with a plurality of pairs of openings. The upper opening of each pair is denoted at 6 and the lower opening of said pair at 7, and the anchoring clips 8 for the fence wires WV, may be engaged with any or all of said pairs of openings. As all of the clips 8 are of the same construction, a description of one will suflice.

The clip 8 is formed from a single length of stiff wire whose upper end is bent laterally and downwardly to provide a hook 9 for passage through the upper opening 6. For further reference, the bight portion of the hook is denoted at 10 and its bill at 11.

The intermediate portion of the clip body is bowed outwardly somewhat as denoted at 12, to accommodate the wire W, and the lower end of the clip-forming wire is bent laterally to provide a finger 13 for passage through the lower opening 7 This finger 13 is bent between its ends to provide it with an upward hump or cam 14. The shortest distance between this hump or cam and the bight portion 10 of the hook 9, is less than the shortest distance between the upper and i I lower openings '6 and 7, and the hook bill 11 1s disposed in widely diverging relation with the vertical or body portion of the clip.

Hence, after initially engaging the hook 9 with the opening6, the bight portion 10 will I remain contact with the lower end of said opening 6 and will pivotally support the clip, while swinging the latter tomove its finger 13 through the lower opening 7. I By the time the' clip reaches substantially the position shown in Fig. 2 its movement isarrested by the hump or cam means l gand it can only be moved past this position by application of force. As the clip is forced to its final operaw tiveposition, the hump 14 exerts a cam action, thus momentarily expanding the clip and allowing said hump or cam means to snap past the upper end of the opening 7. As soon as the clip has reached its final operative position, its own resiliency again contracts it, with the resultthat the clip will stay firmly in position even against strong pressure, without the necessity of clinching the finger 18 against the post. Moreover, should it be 2 desired to remove any of the clips, for instance, to change the positions of the wires W or to move the fence, the clips may be quickly and easily removed simply by striking a blow upon the ends of their fingers 13, 1 .5

and may be again used.

The details disclosed have proven to be advantageous from all standpoints and are preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor 31 variations may be made. Moreover, while I have used such terms as upper and lower in explaining the invention, it will be obvious that the clip could be used inverted, horizontal, or in any other position. Hence, such 6gb terms as those quoted, are not to be considered as limiting.

I claim 1. A wire mounting fence post having an upper and a lower opening whose axes are (95 transverse to the direction in which the wire extends, and a wire-fastening clip having a pivot hook at one end to engage one of said openings, the other end of said clip having cam means adapted to snap through the other 51100 opening when the clip is forcibly swung into operative position, said cam means and post being co-operable to momentarily spring the clip from its normal shape when said clip is forced into position and being thereafter cooperable to hold the clip in place.

2. A fence posthavingan upper and a lower opening, and a wire-fastenin clip comprising a substantially Vertical stil' wire having one-end bent laterallyto provide. a hook for passage through one .ofsaid openings, the other end of said wire being bent laterally to form a finger for passage through the other of said openings, said f nger being provided with a hump between its ends, the bill of said hook being in diverging relation with thebody of the olip to allow the bight portion of said hook to rest .pivotallyv upon thefinner endof said one opening during movementof said finger through said (other opening, the-shortest distance between said bight portionand said hump being .less than the shortest ditsance between said openings, whereby the ,clip w ill;anQmentarily expand and said hump will snap past the inner end of said other opening whenforoibly swinging the clip tooperative position.

3. A; structureas speoifiedinelaim 2; said finger having a bend forming said hump.

In testimony whereof Laflix; my signature.

DELh-IER C. LEE. 

